The 2010 preseason schedule will give the Denver Nuggets an early look at their Northwest Division and Western Conference rivals leading up to the Oct. 27 regular-season opener against the Utah Jazz.

The Nuggets will play host to All-Star guard Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers in their preseason opener at the Pepsi Center on Oct. 8, and reigning NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will visit Denver on Oct. 19.

“Not only are preseason games a great chance to see some of the best players in the NBA, but we encourage fans to come down and check out full-season and 10-game ticket plan locations,” said Kurt Schwartzkopf, chief marketing officer for the Nuggets. “There’s no better way to decide where you want to sit.”

Denver’s remaining six preseason games will be on the road as the Nuggets tune up for the regular-season with a demanding schedule that concludes with back-to-back games in Portland (10/21) and Phoenix (10/22).

After a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 14, the Nuggets will remain at the Staples Center to take part in the L.A. Shootout from Oct. 16-17. Denver will face the defending NBA champion Lakers (10/16) and then play either the Clippers or the Jazz.